Chapter 3

Rosie's POV

Considering where I was going was rather dangerous, I chose to bury Grandma.

I bought an urn pendant, placed some of Grandma's hair along with a bit of ash inside, and buried the rest in a cemetery.

I knelt before the gravestone, gripping the pendant at my chest.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'm about to go do what I want to do. I'll protect myself well."

I returned to the villa in the evening. As soon as I entered, I heard cheerful laughter inside.

The instant I froze, Ethan had already noticed me.

He strode forward and brought me inside.

"Come, let me introduce two friends."

A man and woman on the sofa stood up, turned to look at me, their eyes flashing with mockery.

It was Vivian and Ryan.

My whole body trembled slightly, uncontrollably. This was my physiological response when facing Vivian.

Ethan's voice carried laughter.

"Vivian is a good friend I grew up with. Ryan is my twin brother. They just came back from studying abroad, just in time to attend our wedding."

Vivian waved at me, smiling sweetly.

"Rosie and I know each other. We were college roommates."

As she spoke, she rushed over to link arms with me, whispering in my ear.

"Right, Rosie?"

Countless images flashed before my eyes. Every time after bullying me, Vivian would whisper in my ear.

"Just roommate jokes, right, Rosie?"

I instinctively shuddered and pushed Vivian away.

Vivian sat on the floor looking aggrieved.

"Rosie, do you still dislike me? I just want to get along well with you."

Both men's expressions changed. Ethan rushed over to help Vivian up, his eyes dark.

Ryan frowned in displeasure.

"Ethan, your fiancée has quite the temper. She's not even your wife yet and already this arrogant?"

Ethan shielded Vivian behind him, his tone angry and cold.

"Rosie, apologize!"

I looked at the three of them, my hands hanging at my sides quietly clenching into fists.

Thinking of what I'd heard last night, my heart felt like it was being forcibly torn open.

I silently turned to leave.

I'd barely taken two steps when my wrist was seized, the enormous force making me stumble.

I looked up into Ethan's eyes, churning with anger.

"Who gave you permission to leave?"

Ryan's tone was cold.

"A family like the Graysons values propriety above all. Ethan, your fiancée needs to be properly disciplined."

"You're right."

Ethan's eyes were icy.

"Rosie, you're about to marry me. You must watch your words and actions and constantly restrain your behavior."

"Reflect on what happened today."

With that, he forcibly dragged me to the basement and pushed me into one of the rooms.

Before I could react, he'd already closed the door.

The tightly sealed door let in not a sliver of light. Only then did I realize that it was a small dark room with no windows.

In pure darkness, my breathing became rapid. I pounded on the door in terror.

But no matter how much I shouted, there was no response from outside.

I fell into endless panic.

In college, Vivian had locked me in a small dark room for three days. No sound, no light. The passage of time became especially drawn out.

That time, I had a mental breakdown. Since then, I've feared darkness and developed claustrophobia.

These past few years, I turned on all the lights every night, even when sleeping.

Ethan was very uncomfortable at first, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, waking easily.

But every time I suggested trying to turn off the lights, he'd refuse.

"Rosie, you don't need to force yourself to do anything. I can adapt."

He clearly knew. They... all knew.

Yet they still chose to punish me this way, just because I pushed Vivian once.

My heart ached dully. I curled up in the corner, holding my trembling self tightly.

Yes, the past warmth had been fake all along. It was deliberately performed by them.

Even this dark room was probably custom-made for me.